Going to College

If you are a high school junior or senior, the most important thing on your mind is probably getting accepted into the school(s) of your choice. As you select and apply to colleges, you should also be educating yourself about college financial aid and the cost of the colleges you wish to attend.
There are plenty of ways to pay for college, so don’t let the price tag of a school scare you off. Just be sure you understand that paying for college today is no small task; the average cost of one year at a 4-year public school is $15,213 and $35,636 for a 4-year private school¹. Once you receive your financial aid award packages from the colleges to which you applied and were accepted, make sure you compare college costs carefully. Check to see what the total cost of each college is, compared to the amount of scholarships and grants you were given at each school. If you need help, use our Comparing Colleges Calculator.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to start thinking about how you are going to pay for college. You and your family should start making a college budget, learning about college financial aid and applying for college scholarships now. Free money, like scholarships and grants, is always the best way to pay for college. Once you’ve exhausted free money, and any money your family is willing to contribute towards your education costs, you’ll want to start researching college student loans.